Mouth bacteria linked to bowel cancer

Bacteria in the mouth may be associated with an increased risk of bowel cancer, US scientists say.

Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute discovered unusually high levels of a bacterium called Fusobacterium, which is associated with the development of gum disease, in bowel tumour samples.

Although further research is needed, the finding suggests that the bacterium may be associated with bowel cancer as well as gum disease.

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Lead author Dr Matthew Meyerson, whose findings are published in the journal Genome Research, said: 'At this point, we don't know what the connection between Fusobacterium and colon cancer might be.

'It may be that the bacterium is essential for cancer growth, or that cancer simply provides a hospitable environment for the bacterium. Further research is needed to see what the link is.'

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said the findings highlighted the importance of maintaining good oral health.

He noted that anyone with swollen gums that bleed regularly when brushing, bad breath, loose teeth or regular mouth infections is likely to have gum disease and should visit their dentist.

NHS figures suggest that between 50 and 90 per cent of adults in England have some degree of gum disease, which affects most people at least once during their lifetime.

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